Goguryeo
/koʊˈɡʊr.i.oʊ/noun
An ancient Korean kingdom that existed from approximately 37 BCE to 668 CE in parts of the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria.
Did you know?Goguryeo was one of Korea’s Three Kingdoms and left spectacular tomb murals depicting celestial guardians, hunting scenes, dragons, and other supernatural imagery.
Etymological Timeline
1st century BCE
Early Korean
Goguryeo
“The kingdom’s indigenous name; its original meaning is uncertain, and proposed interpretations remain disputed.”
1st–5th centuries
Chinese records
高句麗 (Gāogōulí)
“The Chinese transcription used for the kingdom’s name; the characters represent its pronunciation rather than providing a reliable literal translation.”
5th century
Classical Chinese
高句麗 / 麗
“The name appears in diplomatic and historical records during Goguryeo’s territorial and political height.”
668 CE
Korean history
Goguryeo
“The kingdom fell after a Silla–Tang alliance conquered its remaining territory.”
10th century
Middle Korean / Chinese
高麗 (Goryeo; Gāolí)
“The later kingdom of Goryeo adopted a related historical name, from which the English name Korea ultimately developed.”
Modern English
English
Goguryeo
“The standard English name for the ancient Korean kingdom, also spelled Koguryo or Goguryeo.”